Fuel-elevating device



Nov. 13, 1923. 1,473,?611

H. B. GRANT v FUEL ELEVATING DEVICE Filed Dec 22, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Fag 1,

- IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS 1T 0 .B Grazw.

Nov. 13, 1923.

H. B. GRANT FUEL ELEVATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ZQQ/ I Z6 J i o 1% i 2f 2' @Z @l 5 19 14: O 17 5 I Z1 Z0 HH SOB.GIWZ%INVENTORI ATTORNEYS.

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entree Patented HUGO B. GRANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IOSTEWART-VJARHER SPEEDOJE ETER CORPORATIUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACOR-PDRATION 01* VIRGINIA.

FUEL-ELEVATING DEVICE.

Application filed December 22, 2921. Serial No. 524,132.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Huoo B. GRANT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Elevating Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus or devices for conveying liquidsfrom a storage tank or other source of supply to another tank orreceptacle located at a higher level, so that the liquid may liow fromthe latter by gravity to the place of use.

The apparatus has been designed more particularly for use in connectionwith motor vehicles driven by internal-comhustion engines, for "feeding;fuel to the warburetor, and it employs the well-known vacuum icedprinciple, a fuel receiving vessel being provided which is connected tothe carburetor, and which is kept supplied with liquid fuel from astorage tank, the low ol fuel from said tank'to thoria-civing vessclbeing produced by a vacuum r partial Vacuum in a-chamhcr having aninlehconmotion with the tank and an outlet connec-' tion with thereceiving vcssol.

in fuel feeding systems of the kind stated wvliorethe vacuum is producedby the suction ofthe motor, it frequently happens that at low enginespeed lllcre is not produced enough suction to draw fuel into thereceiving vessel. and the invention thcrcl'orc has for its olijcol toeliminate this defect, and to provide a simpler and more eflicicnt meansfor producing a vacuunn and also to eliminate a greatmany working partsin the apparatus now in general use.

The object stated is attained by means of an electric-motor drivcnaiwpump having its cylinder opening into the vacuum chamlicr for drawingair thorcl'rom, and automatically controlled hy a novcl.and improvedmechanism to he hercinal'lcr dcscrihcd and claimed. the vacuum chamhcrliving also pro vidcd with a vcnt. valve which opens to admit air to thevacuum chamlicr whcn lho pump stops upon the liquid reaching a certainprodctcrmincd level in the receiving Vessel, in order that a. constantliquid lcvrl may be maintained in said vessel.

The objects stated ar-Ndllainrd by means of a combination andarrangcmcnt of parts to be ln-reinatter described and claimed and inorder that the same may be better undcrstood, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings forming a of this specification.

in the drawings,

Figure 1 is a eross section of the apparatus on the line l1 of Fig. 2;Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 ol?Fig. 2.

illeterring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes a liquid-receivingvessel having an outlet 6 at the bottom for connection to thecarburetor. in the upper portion of the vessel located avacuum chamber 7having a. bottom outlet 8 into the vessel. It plate 9 forming the top ofthe chamber 7 is provided with an air-pump cylinder 10 which opens intosaid chamber and contains a reciprocat'ory plunger 11 Which is driven byan electric motor 12 supported on the plate 9. Any suitable drivingconnection between the motlor shaft 1;; and the plunger 'il may be providod. The drawings show the motor it coupled to a shalt i l carrying; acam 1.. v n gageahle with the plunger for forcing it in one direction,and a spring 16 forcing it. in the opposite direction. The shaft 14extends into the cylinder '10 and is journaled in a hearing 17 thereon,

The plate 9 is also provided with a suitable fuel connection 18 to thesup ily tank, said connection being arranged to discharge the Fuel drawnfrom said tank into the vacuum chamber 7. from which latter it isdischarged into the vessel 5 through the outlet 8.

On the plate 9 is mounted a post 19 to which is t'ulcrnmcd at one of itsends a switch lever 20 adapted to ha vc its other end engage and bridgea pair of stationary switch contacts 21 to close the circuit of themotor 1'22, and to orcak said circuit upon leaving the contacts. At 22are shown the lcad wires to the switch, and at the conductors lcadingfrom the switch to the motor.

in the vessel 5 is located a float 23 having an upwardly extending stem24 which is connected at the top to the outer end of a I lever 25 whichis in cruined at its other end to the post 19. The outer ends of thelevers 20 and are connected by a pair of parallel coilcd springs 26 saidlevers having lateral extensions at their ends to which the springs areanchored as shown in Fig. 2.

The levers 20 and 25 are so arranged that when the maximum liquid levelis obtained in the vessel 5 and the float 23 has risen, the lever 20 hasbeen swung free of the contacts 21 so that the motor circuit is nowbroken and the air pump is not operating, and as there is now no suctionin the vessel 5, the ,flow thereinto from the supply tank ceases. "lhsthe liquid flows from the vessel 5 to the carburetor, its level isgiadually ireduced, and when a predetermined low level is reached, thedescending float 23, through its stem 24: swings lever 25 to engagelever 20 with the contacts 21 to close the motor cir cuit. The air pumpnow operates to create suction in the chamber 7, and the flow of fuelinto said chamber from the-supply tank is resumed. When the maximumliquid level is again obtained in the vessel 5. the motor circuit isagain automatically broken to stop the motor and the air pump.

The chamber 7 also has an air vent port 27, the same being made in thetop plate fl. This port is provided with a valve 28w which is connectedto the switch lever it! so that simultaneous with the breaking of the-motor circuit, the valve is opened to destroy the suction, whereas whenthe motor circuit 'is closed, the valve is also closed.

The current. for operatine the motor 1; may be obtained from anysuitable source on the car, preferably the one which supplies current tothe ignition system. so that when the ignition switch is turned on, theapparatus is also cut in for operation.

The apparatus is highly cliicient in operation at all engine speeds, asthe vacuum is not produced by the suction strokes of the engine. Theapparatus eliminates the necessity oi changing years to low speed forthe purpose of speeding, up the engine to produce more vacuum, as isfrequently necessary with ape paratus in which the suction in theapparatus is produced by the engine. In this type of apparatus itfrequently happens that with a wide open throttle on a full load thereis not produced enough suction to obtain a feed of fuel from the. supplytank to the apparatus. This trouble is entirely eliminated by themotor-driven air pump controlled as hereinbel'ore described. The enginewill not be called upon to do anything but to propel the car, and henceit will be able to operate at full capacity at all times, and withincreased power and re duced Wear from racing the engine 011 hard pullsby shifting to lower speeds. Hard pulls and steep grades can benegotiated in high gear bccause the fuel suppl will be ever present tosupply the engine at all speeds.

I claim:

1. In a liquid luel supply-mpparatus,'a liquid receiving vessel having;an outlet, avacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vcsscl and aliquid inlet. and also provided with an air-vent port. ail air pumphaving its cylinder opening into the vacuum tllillllllti'. an electricmotor driving the pump. a switch controlling the motor circuit. a valvel'or the vent port, and means for simultam-ouslv operating said switchand valve.

e. In a liquid-fuel supply-iqiparatus, a liquid receiving vessel havingan outlet, a vacuum chamber havinga liquid outlet to the vessel and aliquid inlet, and also provided with an air vcnt port, an air pumphaving its cylinder opening into the vacuum chamber. an electric motordriving the pump, a switch controlling the motor circuit. a valve forthe vent port, a float in the vessel. and an operative connection between the lloat and the switch and valve for simultaneously operatingsaid switch and valve.

:3. In a liquid-fuel supply-apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel havingan outlet, a vacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vessel and aliquid inlet, and also provided with an air-vent port, an air pumphavin; its cylinder opening, into the vacuum chamber, an electric motordriving the pump, a switch controlling the motor circuit, said switchincluding a lever, a valve for the vent port operatively connected tothe lever, a float in the vessel, and an operative connection betweenthe float and the lever. I

t. In a liquid-fuel supply-apparatus, a liquid receiving vessel havingan outlet, a vacuum chamber having a liquid outlet to the vessel and aliquid inlet, and also provided with an air-vent port, an air pumphavingitscyliiider opening into the vacuum chamber, means for operatingthe pump, a valve..'for the vent port, and means-controlled by theliquid level in the vessel for controlling the pump and the valve simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I afiix mylsignature.

HUGO B. GRANT.

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